How To DJ

Chris Hawkins sits down with one of the UK's most influential musical curators, DJs and record collectors for a conversation that goes far beyond the dancefloor, Andy Votel.

From building homemade DJ setups powered by Hornby train controllers to discovering hip hop through crate digging, Andy explains why he's spent a lifetime breaking every rule in the DJ handbook. He reflects on Manchester's underground music scene, the birth of Twisted Nerve Records, launching the careers of artists like Badly Drawn Boy, and the global obsession with uncovering forgotten music through Finders Keepers.

How To DJ is a Listening Dog Media production.
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Luke Una has spent four decades at the heart of Manchester's underground music scene.

In this episode, the co-founder of Electric Chair and founder of Homoelectric and Homobloc looks back on the clubs, record shops and communities that shaped him, from discovering house music in Sheffield to helping define Manchester's nightlife. He explains why reading a dancefloor matters more than technical ability, how eclectic music built Electric Chair's identity, and why creating spaces where people feel they belong has always been more important than chasing commercial success.

Luke also reflects on sobriety, ADHD, creativity, the changing culture of clubbing, and why he believes young people are rediscovering the magic of dancefloors in an increasingly divided world.

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Tommy Smith joins Chris Hawkins to tell the story of the legendary Blackburn warehouse parties that helped shape the UK rave scene. From discovering acid house in the late 1980s to organising illegal all-night events in disused mills, Tommy reflects on community, counterculture, clashes with the police and why he believes the movement changed society forever. 
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Chris Hawkins is joined by legendary Hacienda resident and British house pioneer Graeme Park. From growing up a Factory Records fan in Scotland, through his early days in Nottingham’s record shops and clubs, to becoming a key figure on the UK house scene, Graeme shares candid stories, reflections on the evolution of DJ culture, the unforgettable energy of the Hacienda, and his adventures remixing and touring the globe.

Plus, they discuss staying passionate after four decades, adapting to new technology, life and loss, recovery from cancer, and what keeps the dancefloor magic alive.

How to DJ is a Listening Dog Media production.
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Phil Kieran joins Chris Hawkins on How To DJ to talk about the moments that shaped his career — from blagging his first DJ set at Belfast’s Limelight to becoming one of electronic music’s most respected producers.

Phil reflects on discovering dance music in the early 90s, learning through trial and error, and why making mistakes is still central to his creative process. He also talks about producing on early hardware, breaking into international DJing, moving into film scoring, and why staying uncomfortable is often the key to creating something original.

Plus, stories about David Holmes, Andrew Weatherall, Berlin, Belfast, and the records that changed everything. 
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